Toby the Talented

My name is Toby and I am a lovable Lhasa Apso here at the Second Chance Humane Society Shelter.  As I wait for my forever parents to come and adopt me I can’t help but think about how fortunate that I am to live in a country where animals are allowed certain protections.  Protections from being treated with cruelty and neglect, and here in Ridgway we are protected from being hungry and homeless. 

This is not the case for other parts of the country and world – where most animal species are offered no protections.  Fortunately there are watchdogs (pun intended) out there who are championing changes and pushing for better protections for all animals.  As a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States, The Humane Society Legislative Fund works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office.

One way that The HSLF works is through publishing an annual Humane Scorecard to assess the support of federal legislators on a broad range of animal protection issues. This Scorecard provides an easy way to monitor how U.S. senators and representatives have acted on these issues and it helps chart the progress of public policy work on behalf of animals.

Michael Markarian, HSLF President, recently summarized the progress and/or failures of federal legislators:“The first year of the 111th Congress saw a number of advances for animal protection policies, prepping the way for final action this year on many important bills and bringing new issues into the political discourse.

Wildlife protection made great strides in the House of Representatives, which passed 11 measures to help native and exotic wild animals, including a prohibition on the pet trade in primates and a bill to overhaul management of wild horses and burros on public lands. Other House-approved bills would bring protections to ocean dwellers by ending shark finning, providing grants for marine mammal rescue, and promoting the recovery of Pacific sea otters.

Key issues were also addressed in enacted funding bills for federal agencies.  Among the achievements were provisions to block expenditures on horse slaughter and end the slaughter of downed cattle, promote and fund nonanimal research methods, study the use of service dogs for rehabilitating veterans, and increase appropriations to implement international agreements for wildlife conservation and improve enforcement of key domestic animal welfare laws.  The Senate unanimously approved a resolution calling on the Canadian government to end its commercial seal hunt.

Despite all these advances, Congress took a few steps backwards on other issues, blocking the collection of data on greenhouse gas emissions from the largest factory farms and overturning a long-standing federal ban on carrying loaded firearms in national parks. And a number of key bills still need to cross the finish line; though many have Senate champions and some have won committee approval in that chamber, none has received a floor vote there.”

 In 2010HSLF will be pursuing enactment of protective legislation on issues as: horse slaughter, fur labeling, antibiotic misuse on factory farms, invasive research on chimpanzees, puppy mills, the trade in stolen and otherwise fraudulently obtained pets for research, a tax credit for spaying and neutering pets, among a host of other concerns affecting pets, farm animals, and wildlife.

I urge you to check out the HSLF Humane Scorecard (hslf.org/humanescorecard), as I am rather disappointed in the performance of the Colorado Legislators in 2009.  Consider letting them know you have reviewed their scorecard and urge them to work harder at improving their grades for 2010.

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Hobbs the Alphabet Cat

Hi, I’m Hobbs the Alphabet Cat!   While temporarily living at the Second Chance Shelter waiting for that lucky person to adopt me, I have been entertaining myself by taking shopping trips to the Second Chance Thrift Shop.  It is a great place to learn my abc’s and practice my hunting skills – with Alphabet Shopping Scavenger hunts! 

By shopping at the Second Chance Thrift Shop, in addition to finding amazing bargains and a vast array of items for sale, I am helping our community to recycle and reuse quality merchandise, art, houseware, and so much more.   From A to Z there are thousands of brand name quality products and I will share with you some that I have found:

A is for albums and art supplies , B is for books, bedding and boots, C is for the children’s  department full of clothing and toys where I have found everything from Carter’s to Cartier. 

D is for DVD’s and designer wear, E is for electronics from Sony to Sanyo,  F is for furniture, frames, and fish bowls, but alas no fish… 

For the letter G, I found garden shears, games, and greeting cards, H is for hats, hairdryers, and hiking gear, I is for ice trays, irons, and Indonesian masks, J is juicers,  jigsaw puzzles, and jewelry.  K is for knitting needles and kitten toys. 

 L is for L.L. Bean and Lands End clothing, M is for music, mittens, and men’s wear, N is for napkins and notebooks, and O is for opals and oven supplies.  P is for pantyhose and puppy supplies.

I thought Q might be hard to find, but then I found quiche pans, quart jars, and Bartlett’s Quotations,  R was a snap, as I quickly found rings (as in jewelry), rattles, and rhinestones.  S was also fun when I located, skates, skis, sandals, and swimwear.  For T I found toasters, teacups, and tea towels.  U was more of a challenge, but I found umbrellas and underwear.

V is for vehicles (yes there is a truck in the parking lot up for sale), vases and vintage wear.  W is for winter coats, wrapping paper and window coverings, X was hard, but I found sizes from XS to XL and X-mas gifts and décor all year long.  

Y was another quick find for yoyos, yarn, and yoga mats. I ended with Z for zippers, zebras, (er, stuffed ones) and books on Zen to help me find my inner peace, which I lost when I was abandoned by my parents, but am regaining every day… 

So consider stopping by the thrift shop to help me add great finds to my ABC scavenger list!  As you can see, the Thrift Shop is a fun place to be and it is a place where shopping makes a difference…

The Thrift Shop is open seven days a week, Monday –Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday noon to 5pm.  All proceeds from the Thrift Shop go directly toward shelter operations and animal welfare programs so that homeless pets like me can have a second chance.  Currently the Thrift Shop covers 64% of the total operating costs of Second Chance – what a difference your donations and shopping can make!!!

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Champ the Champ

My name is Champ, a homeless pet here at the Second Chance Humane Society Shelter.   I am one of many pets at Second Chance who arrived without any identification, making it pretty difficult for me to be returned to my family.

I am not alone in this situation, as an average of 8 to 12 million companion animals end up in shelters across the country each year. Sadly, only about 15 percent of those dogs and 2 percent of the cats are reunited with their owners. These dreary statistics can easily be remedied through the simple prevention approach of the microchip.  To promote the advantages of microchipping, Second Chance is offering another low cost Microchip Clinic on Saturday February 6^th at the Second Chance Shelter in Ridgway!  Details are below…

For readers unfamiliar with the microchip – they are harmless and very tiny – the size of a grain of rice.  They are implanted quickly and painlessly into subcutaneous layer of your pet’s skin.  The serial number they are encoded with can be read by a scanner and tracked immediately to the pet parent listed in the database.

Despite rumors to the contrary, microchips do not have GPS capability to locate a missing pet, nor can they be accessed by a satellite, so your pet can not be tracked by a government entity or identified beyond a range of about three to 12 inches.  A microchip implant does help to recover lost pets turned into an animal shelter, animal control, or a veterinarian’s office, or any entity utilizing scanners to identify lost pets.

As with any ID method, it is imperative for pet parents to keep your database information current.  More than once pets have arrived at Second Chance with a microchip that did not link to a working phone number or address, thus rendering it useless.

Consider microchipping your pet as an insurance policy for your pet’s return if ever lost.  Even for pet parents who are diligent about keeping their pets in collars with I.D. tags – pets often “Houdini” out of their collars.  Additionally, cats are less likely to find their way home once lost because they are less likely to be given collars and identification tags by their parents. 

We hope that community members will visit us at the Second Chance Shelter with your pets to take advantage of the great deal on micro-chipping.  This is the absolutely best way to assure that your pets can quickly be returned if lost and Second Chance is making it affordable at only $25 per pet (normal costs range from $50 and up).

Dr. Allison Branson of the Telluride Veterinary Clinic will be volunteering at the Shelter to microchip your pets from the hours of 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday February 6^th. 

Because Second Chance believes so strongly in providing all pets with a secure identity source, all adoptable pets, such as me, receive a microchip prior to adoption.  I also happen to come with a great sense of humor, loving and playful personality, and dashing good looks. 

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Lavender the Lover

A recent Second Chance Humane Society Pet Column  introduced the need for pet parents to plan in advance for the care of your pet(s) in the case of your death or unforeseen inability to care for them. Part of the mission of Second Chance is to promote responsible pet parenting, and this is a prime example of that responsibility which many don’t attend to.  As a result Second Chance regularly contends with many rescue situations involving traumatized pets who suddenly have no caretaker.

I am actually one of those pets, rescued last summer, but more recently Second Chance rescued seven dogs from the same household of a parent no longer able to care for them.   (Details of these eight dogs needing new homes conclude this column.)  Second Chance strongly encourages all pet owners to make the critical plans necessary of ensuring your pet’s future wellbeing.  This Pet Column will get you started:

There are many levels to the planning process but all are predicated upon (1) who will care for your pet(s) and (2) how will you financially support this care.  In choosing a caregiver, decide if your pets should go to one or more persons. Try to keep pets together who have bonded with one another and designate backup caregivers as well, in case something happens to one of your initial choices.  Make sure the caregivers you select fully understand and agree to the responsibilities involved. Consider only trustworthy adults with pet parenting experience who, ideally, have some familiarity with your pets.

The caregivers should be identified in your will with an additional backup plan directing that the identified executor or trustee can place your pets with another responsible person. The will should also grant discretion to your executor for decisions about the pets and in expending estate funds on the animal’s behalf.

Relative to funding your pet’s care if something happens to you, it is possible to use the proceeds from a life insurance policy as an affordable way to pay for pets who survive you.  Additionally, Colorado is one of more than 30 states that now allow pet owners to set up pet trusts.

With an Enforceable Pet Trust, courts can monitor the trustees to make sure that pets receive the care deceased owners intended, and that all funds targeted for a pet’s care are indeed used for that purpose.  Another benefit of setting up a trust is that it can be written to exclude certain assets from probate so that funds are available sooner to care for your pet.

When establishing a will or a trust, keep in mind that you need to provide a reasonable amount of money for both the trustee and the pet caretakers and that annual cost for care vary with the health and age of the individual animal. Consider costs for food, grooming, vet care, etc.

A final important consideration involves including care issues of your pet in a Living Will or Trust to make sure your pet is cared for in the event of your severe disability — a situation in which a will would not be valid.   SCHS encourages all pet owners to discuss these issues with estate and other planning professionals, such as their attorneys, accountants, or life insurance representatives.

For further information, the Humane Society of the United States publishes a free kit (www.hsus.org/petsinwills) called “Providing for Your Pet’s Future Without You”.  Or visit: http://estateplanningforpets.org.

In closing I invite you to consider fostering or adopting one of the seven newly rescued dogs mentioned above.  They include two Dachsunds, 2 Lhasa Apso’s, 1 Heeler, her 6 month Heeler/Lab puppy, and a Husky mix.  They are not all ready for adoption immediately but would benefit from a loving foster home.

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

The Second Chance Humane Society mission involves saving animal’s lives through shelter, foster, rehabilitation, and adoption programs but also by preventing the cause of homeless pets through spay/neuter and other community outreach programs and efforts.  In order to make a bigger impact in prevention Second Chance has been working with the WeCARe SW Coalition for the past 4 years, a coalition of other animal rescue and welfare groups throughout the Colorado Western Slope region.  WeCARe recently secured a $40,000 grant to support its combined prevention efforts.

The grant was awarded from Maddie’s Fund, The Pet Rescue Foundation, (www.maddiesfund.org) a family foundation funded by Workday and PeopleSoft Founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl. Maddie’s Fund is helping to create a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats are guaranteed a loving home. Maddie’s Fund is named after the family’s beloved Miniature Schnauzer. 

The Pet Rescue Foundation typically awards grants to large demographic areas where a great need is demonstrated.  The WeCARe SW Coalition covers 7,283 square miles and includes Delta, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties. It is home to approximately 216,000 people and 100,000 dogs and cats.

The $40,000 grant will support the worthy goal of eliminating euthanasia of healthy and treatable dogs and cats in this Western Slope Region. This grant supports the collection and sharing of shelter statistics and reporting shelter data.  By partnering together the ten animal welfare organizations of WeCARe were able to establish a need for this grant as a united group.  As goals are achieved, the WeCARe SW Coalition will be eligible to apply for additional grants to develop and implement a strategic plan to achieve this admirable objective.

The grant amount for each agency was determined using the number of animals adopted or transferred by each agency in 2008. Mesa County Animal Services will be administering the grant based on those statistics.

Second Chance is also proud to announce that despite an economically challenging year, homeless pet rescues and adoptions were at an all time high for 2009.  With 388 pets rescued into the shelter and 316 matched into new loving forever homes, Second Chance was able to complete 100 more adoptions than the previous year.  Additionally, 49 lost/stray pets were safely reunited with their parents (the remainder of the rescued pets are awaiting adoption).

2010 does not look like the need for rescuing pets will be slowing down, the shelter is full, adoptions are going strong, and the staff are working at full capacity as usual to meet the demands of these pets in need.  As always Foster Homes are being sought to help care for young, elderly, ill, or overflow pets.  Consider making a difference in the life of a lovable homeless pet like me.  My name is Lucy and I am grateful to Second Chance for all that they do – consider being a part of it.

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Set Your Resolutions with Spades...

Set Your Resolutions with Spades…

Starting off the year as a homeless pet at the Second Chance Humane Society Shelter was not what I had planned.  But my number one New Year Resolution is to be adopted by a forever family within one week.  After I am adopted I can focus on my true purpose – helping others stick to their resolutions…

As was discussed in last year’s “Resolutions” Pet Column, resolutions are tricky things,  typically forgotten shortly after they are conceived because they tend to be dull and about “not” doing something rather than positive growth.  Resolving that “I will not eat Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for breakfast” only makes one crave Ben & Jerry’s chocolate fudge brownie ice cream all day long.   So let’s resolve to make our resolutions positive and empowering!  Below are some fresh ideas for all Pet Column readers:

5 Easy Resolutions for an Amazing 2010:

1. Live & Love like each day is the first and last day of your life (just observe your pets if you are unsure how to approach this).
2. Be thankful (again – allow your adopted pet to guide you in this).
3. Learn new stuff daily (be as curious as a cat and adventuresome as a dog).
4. Have a fit of exuberance every day (for guidance: visit the shelter and watch the young ones play).
5. Repeat steps 1-4.

Below I have also included my sage advice on planning your 2010 year to-do list (not quite as invigorating as resolutions but important nonetheless):

1. Schedule your pet’s annual visit to the vet (and get that spay/neuter done if you have been putting it off).
2. Look into purchasing pet health insurance or plan on setting aside money each month for emergency vet bills.
3. Micro-chip or put a collar with an updated ID tag on your dog or cat. (Watch for Second Chance Micro-chipping clinics for affordable micro-chips in 2010).
4. Research different pet diets and get your pet on the most feasible one for health and longevity.
5. Volunteer some of your time or donate to a local animal shelter or rescue.
6. Adopt a pet from a shelter. Let this be the year you give one (or more) a second chance at life.

And to my potential adoptive family: I, “Spades”, resolve to be your teacher and guide in the true Art of Living (See above under “5 Resolutions…”).  Happy 2010 All!!!

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Peppermint the Perky Puppy

Although part of the Second Chance Humane Society service area does not yet have animal control officers (Second Chance serves San Miguel and Ouray Counties) it was great to read in Animal Sheltering magazine (the July/August 2009 edition which I summarize below) about the changing nature of animal control services throughout the nation.  The article details how progressive agencies are changing the way animal control does business, by reconciling the need to protect the public with the goal of saving animals’ lives.

In the early era of animal control (latter days of the 19th century), agencies across the country followed a model that they thought defined their role: protect the public from dangerous animals and cite people for violations of animal control laws.  They felt that the way to correct animal problems was to enforce laws by citing everyone and impounding everything.   However, intake and euthanasia numbers weren’t dropping and the same animal problems kept happening. It was like bailing the ocean with a thimble.

Changes needed to be made at the essence of animal control, a service which evolved out of fear when rabies was regularly causing human fatalities, especially in cities where stray dogs roamed the streets and came into contact with people.  Many understood that deaths from rabies were related to contact with animals, but the limited understanding of disease transmission led to a terror of stray dogs that now seems absurdly paranoid and led to mass and inhumane roundups of stray dogs.  Some of the oldest humane societies in the country were formed by citizens concerned about the brutality of the dogcatchers.

The vast majority of animal control officers today bear no resemblance to the terrifying dogcatchers of history—in part because since 1960, the majority of rabies cases in this country have been caused by wild, not domestic, animals. As a result the U.S. has become a nation of pet lovers and decreases in euthanasia numbers across the country reflect the hard work of people in the field, and the growing public concern for animals.

More people now recognize the value of licensing and of spaying and neutering their pets. More people keep their animals in their homes with them.  National euthanasia estimates in the 1970s were between 12 and 20 million; current annual estimates are below 4 million. It’s a tremendous achievement, and the trend downward continues.

And now the public also wants to know that their local agencies are humane-minded, compassionate places working alongside other community animal welfare groups to stop animal cruelty and reduce euthanasia.  Enforcement is a part of that, but education is just as important.  Subsequently more and more agencies have dropped “Control” from their names, opting for the more friendly “Animal Services”.  For many of the best agencies in the country, citation and enforcement—while still necessary tools—are far, far down the list of daily priorities.

 My name is Peppermint and as a recently rescued puppy here at Second Chance I am grateful for the changes that continue to make life for stray pups like me much better.  And I am grateful for the caring persons who provide animal services throughout this region – from animal control officers to the Second Chance staff and volunteers!

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Have you ever heard of a zooarchaeologist?  They are the breed of people that study the remains of my ancestors, rather than human ones.  Zooarchaeologists lead a new line of research on cats, dogs, and other animals that were preserved with great skill in care in ancient times.  Such research allows humans to understand whole new and intriguing aspects of daily life and death of Egyptian people who lived thousands of years ago. 

Although some of the discovered mummified animals were meant to serve as dinner or protection for a human mummy, and others were the living representative of a god (such as the bull, ibis, crocodile, or elephant), many were meant to accompany a dead person “into eternity” as his or her everlasting companion.  These were beloved pets which a King or a Princess did not want to leave behind, their linen wrappings adorned jewels, beads, and intricate appliqués.  Zooarchaeologists allow us to recognize that the concept of the human-animal bond that Second Chance Humane Society works to promote is not a novel thing to the modern world but has been developing for thousands of years.

Today animal mummy exhibits are the most popular in historical museums.  According to zooarchaeologist Salima Ikram, who studies animal remains throughout Egypt, animal mummies create a bridge between people today and those of long ago.  “You look at these animals, and suddenly you say, Oh, King So-and-So had a pet.  I have a pet.  And instead of being at a distance of 5,000 plus years, the ancient Egyptians become people”. (National Geographic, Nov. 2009)  People who loved their pets as you do yours.

Most people no longer bring their pets “with them” when they die.  They typically leave them behind to complete their lives with family and friends.  But not everyone makes plans for their pet and as an unfortunate result, many once-loved pets often end up at a local shelter (at best) or simply abandoned (at worst).  Making plans for the care of your pet needs to start now and the Second Chance Pet Column can help.

In next week’s pet column we will discuss how to plan for your pet’s care, not only if you should die but also if you become injured or ill and are unable to temporarily or permanently care for your pet.  Although it is not the most uplifting topic for the Pet Column – it is very important and what all responsible pet parents are encouraged to do.

As a young and healthy little kitten here at Second Chance I should be around a long time and whoever adopts me can look forward to years of “earthly” companionship.  Come to the Shelter to meet me today – just as for “Ambrosia”.

 

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Kassy the Kisser

I was just reading about a program that the Humane Animal Welfare Society in Waukesha, Wisconsin has developed with the Waukesha Memorial Hospital.  It pairs cardiac rehabilitation patients, who need to begin regular exercise regimes, with shelter dogs in need of walking companions.  It provides the perfect venue for the heart patients, who prior to the program were reluctantly and unenthusiastically going to the hospital rehab center and trudging along on a treadmill.  Now they can go to the Shelter where they are greeted by an exuberant dog ready to take them on a lovely stroll out in the fresh air.

Of course, the dogs benefit as much as the patients.  It is a fact that regularly walked dogs fair much better in a shelter environment, through reduced stress, greater sociability and regular training, which leads to faster and more successful adoptions.  Additionally, the individual time between the walker and the dog in an environment external to the shelter help the staff to learn more about the dog’s temperaments and how they interact with other people and dogs they are not familiar with.  This information is very beneficial for shelter staff in making the right match between the dogs and potential adopters.

The program, called “Cardiac Friends”, has become a social event for many of the participants who often meet as a group for coffee before heading to the shelter for dog walking.  Many participants credit the dogs with their success in staying in the fitness program, as most were previously not avid exercisers.  And not only do they benefit from staying motivated to keep exercising, but they gain the pride of knowing they are making a difference in the lives of homeless pets.  And, did I mention that dogwalking is great for weight loss??? (Walk a hound – lose a pound!)

 Additionally, there are the “hidden” benefits that accompany spending time with dogs, as research has shown, such as reduced blood pressure, depression, anxiety, and even a decrease in the need for pain killers in some post-operative patients.  Thus the physical and emotional well being of both walker and dog are positively affected at multiple levels.

 So, why wait for a heart attack to take advantage of the benefits of walking a shelter dog?  Walking is also a great way to prevent heart issues or just to feel good in general.  Don’t become an indoor hermit this winter.  The Second Chance Shelter is adjacent to the bike/walking path here in Ridgway – which is maintained from snow and ice and the walking conditions are lovely most afternoons.

 As I write this week’s Pet Column it is snowing outside.  I love snow.  I love how fluffy and light and refreshing it feels – it makes me jump for joy.  Why don’t we go jump around together???   My name is Kassy.  I am young, energetic, fun-loving and would love to help you stay strong and healthy.  Come by for a stroll today!!!

 

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.

Dear Pet Column Readers,

My name is Anastasia and I am waiting here at the Second Chance Shelter, hoping to be going Home for the Holidays!  I have done some research on Holiday Hazards around the household so that I can be on my best behavior when I am adopted.  Most of these hazards apply to any pets around the house – so essentially everyone should pay attention…

First off, as enticing at it appears to your pet, particularly energetic and adventurous kittens and puppies, do not to let your pets climb or chew upon your Christmas tree.  Tree toppling can lead to injuries for your pets as well as innocent bystanders.  To prevent such a calamity simply secure your tree to the ceiling or wall with sturdy fishing line or the like. 

Another precaution you should take is in regard to the tree ornaments.  Make sure that the ornaments within reach of your pets are non-breakable plastic or wooden ornaments and not glass.  Also, do not leave tree lights plugged in while curious pets are unattended, light-chewing can deliver unhealthy results.

Other Holiday hazards include Holiday plants that are poisonous and dangerous to your pets – which cats are particularly attracted to, such as poinsettia, mistletoe and amaryllis plants.  Either keep them out of the house or make sure they are out of reach of your cats (which many cat parents will tell you – it is difficult to keep things out of reach of many sprite felines).

Speaking of Holiday edibles that are bad for pet tummies, there have been many cases reported of dogs breaking into boxes of packaging peanuts and feasting on them (if they don’t want us to eat them why do they make them look like peanuts?).  Keep those packing products out of the reach of those pets whose stomachs override their sensibilities (and their taste buds…). 

Chocolate, raisins, onions, and other rich foods are of course no-no’s, so those platters of fudge, fruit bread, and the like are best kept out of reach as well (do I need to detail about stringing popcorn on the tree?).  Of course, don’t forget about our powerful “sniffers” and remember that wrapped boxes of chocolate and other treats won’t last long under the tree once you step out for some Caroling and sleigh-riding…

And while on the topic of snacking under the tree, remember to keep your tree stand covered as pine sap and water, although sweet smelling, poses a poisonous threat to your pet as well.

With all of these precautions I hope you don’t lose focus on what really counts: having pets amongst your household family members during the Holidays truly adds to the spirit of love, cuddles, and warmth.   Please remember all the orphaned pets during the Holidays.  Spread the love through bringing us into your homes or sharing treats, toys, and hugs with all the Second Chance shelter pets.   Enhance this Season of Giving and of Light with those in need…

Call the Second Chance Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter Financial Assistance, Volunteer & Foster Care, or other Programs.  Visit our shelter pets online: www.secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Direct Pet Column questions to:  kelly@secondchancehumanesociety.org.  Photo by Real Life Photographs.